Today's News

The 156th year of the birth of Saint Gertrude was celebrated this past Sunday with the annual función at Saint Gertrude’s Catholic Church.

The Mass ended with a processional to the elementary school gym.

In the processional, the priest and the deacons followed with the cross.

The statue of the patron saint was carried along with the patron saints of the different churches of the parish. The Penitentes sang hymns all the way. A large group of people of different ages walked in the procession.

My fun father used to tell us kids there was a dodo bird that flew backwards to see where he had been. Of course, we looked for that odd bird, and we never did see one. I did tell sweet brother Bill I thought I’d seen one, in hopes he’d quit pestering me and spend his idle time looking for oddball birds.

Oh, yes, I got away with a lot there for a while, just because I was two years older than Bill.

And now as this column hits our print media, I look on yet another memorable Thanksgiving and recount the many blessings we all have here.

PECOS —The head of the Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department told San Miguel County commissioners last week that despite the fear that surrounds fracking, there has never been a case of water contamination from hydraulic fracturing in New Mexico.

The former daycare center owner charged with molesting two of the children who attended his facility has pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Edward Quintana, 72, of the 2500 block of Montezuma Street, will get five years of supervised probation and have to register as a sex offender. The agreement gives the judge the authority to impose a deferred or suspended sentence. Quintana must also stay away from his victims.

El Sombrero Restaurant is once again opening its doors to the community and offering a free turkey meal with all the fixings on Thanksgiving.

But there will be one small change this year: No carry-out orders will be allowed.

The local restaurant, located at 825 Mills Ave. has been providing the hot turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing for starters meal for residents and visitors free of charge on Thanksgiving since 1996.

Victor Ramirez, son of restaurant’s owner Helen Rivera-Gonzales, said providing the meal is a family tradition.

Southwest Capital Bank was selected as a recipient of the 2012 VIVA Award. VIVA stands for vision, investment, vitality, and action. Each year the awards program recognizes New Mexico businesses that demonstrate their unique vision or corporate philosophy, their investment in company employees and the surrounding community, their vitality through the organization’s growth or financial strength, and their action to make New Mexico a better place to live.

Regulators in New Mexico are negotiating with eight pueblos and two tribes over whether slot machine wagers started with “free play” or “bonus point” credits should be included when the casinos report their total quarterly wagers.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that Gaming Control Board officials maintain the tribal casinos are paying the state less than they should by not adding the value of “free” or “bonus” play to the total amount of cash wagered and reported to the state.

The gap between wealthy households and low-income families continues to grow in New Mexico, and the difference between their incomes is now the largest in the nation, according to a study released Wednesday.